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My name is Lucy, I’m 27 years old and I have a severe anxiety disorder that has left me virtually housebound and unable to work for over 4 years. Unfortunately, my condition is proving difficult to treat. However, I’ve found that focusing on creative activities keeps me calm and relieves my anxiety – adult colouring books are playing a huge part in this. I also used them regularly with my patients when I was working as a nursing assistant in a psychiatric inpatient unit and they proved incredibly popular.

In the UK, one in four people will experience a mental health problem each year – a huge group of people who could feel the benefits of creative activities on relieving symptoms of mental illness. As someone who not only suffers from mental illness but has also worked with psychiatric inpatients, I am in a unique position to review these books for this target group and post about them on this blog. Being housebound means that I cannot visit bookshops, so being sent review copies enables me to assess aspects including the paper quality, positivity of images, and level of concentration required, giving an accurate review for my mentally ill readers.

If you would like me to review your books then please submit your details here. I am also available for interviews about mental illness or adult colouring and these can be requested here.

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10 comments

Thanks Lucy, a lovely blog that I found whilst searching through Amazon for a colouring book to add to my collection. I have Generalised Anxiety Disorder, and was introduced to colouring through my therapist. As a graphic designer however, I’m very particular about my colouring books – as I do find many of them too childish, pretty or dull (I hate repetitive patterns and flowers!). However thanks to your excellent blog and the photos you’ve put up, I’ve been able to discover some gems which are now on order from Amazon. That you 🙂

Thank you so much for your lovely comment! I’m so glad you found my blog and have found my reviews helpful! Do get in touch if you’re ever looking for things that I’ve not reviewed. I can’t keep up with demand and often know more about a larger number of books and products than I’ve managed to officially review and I’m always happy to help match people up with products and books they’ll like so please don’t hesitate to contact me. I hope you continue to enjoy colouring 🙂

Like Helen, I found your blog via Amazon.co.uk where I checked out Johanna Basford’s Secret Garden calendar to give to my husband (who is very ill and housebound, unfortunately). Your excellent review and pictures helped me decide to actually purchase it for him. Thank you very much and I’ll keep checking out your blog from time to time! (I’ve made sure to reenter amazon.co.uk through your blog, to enable the affiliate program to work its magic and hope others will do that too).

Thank you so much Marja! That’s so kind of you to go to that extra effort to help support my site and I’m so pleased to hear that my reviews have helped you purchase suitable things for your husband. Best wishes to you both and I hope my reviews will continue to help inform you in the future about good books.

This is one of the best blogs I have come across. I started coloring about a year ago while searching for a hobby and a form of grief therapy from the loss of my husband who sadly lost his battle with mental illness. Thank you Lucy for all you do..you are surely maki
ng a difference and the world a better place. Bless you !

Thank you so much for commenting, you nearly made me cry! I’m so so pleased to be able to help you and others in some small way and I really hope that colouring continues to help you. I’m so sorry to hear about your husband, it truly is a battle trying to fight mental illness and I’m always saddened when I hear of someone who didn’t make it through. Keep on colouring and if you ever need any help or advice about books or supplies please don’t hesitate to get in touch! Huge hugs to you! Lucy xxx

Hi Lucy,
My son also has a severe anxiety disorder. Like you he cannot work and is literally house bound. What a horrible disease. He is in counseling, it will be a long road, but I know he will come out on the sunny side, just like you will. God Bless you. Looking forward to reading your blog.

Hi Sue,
I’m so sorry to hear that your son is so unwell at the moment but I’m glad he’s getting help and treatment and you’re right, he can come out on the sunny side, I strongly believe I will, one day! I hope you’ll find my blog helpful, thanks for taking the time to comment! Best wishes to you and your son! xxx